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Tomorrow’s world at risk: spaceport funding jeopardised by independence

Mike Wade

July 16 2014, 1:01am, The Times

Prestwick is on the shortlist of possible locationsTimes Newspapers Ltd

Space has become the final frontier in the battle for Scottish independence, following a UK government announcement that six of the eight leading contenders for the country’s first “spaceport” are north of the border.

Campbeltown, Prestwick and Stornoway join Leuchars, Lossiemouth and Kinloss as potential venues for the launchpad, which could be commissioned within four years.

Llanbedr in Wales and Newquay, Cornwall, are also under consideration as the potential starting point for commercial and tourist space flights.

The project, confirmed at the Farnborough International Airshow, has been driven by Westminster. By 2030, the government hopes to capture 10 per cent of the world’s space market.

If the target is met, a potential market estimated at £40 billion could be opened up should operators such as…

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